Glass-top stoves are a much-admired kitchen appliance, both for their sleek, modern design and ease of use. They practically scream, "cook with me," especially when they're clean and gleaming. A shining stove is a welcome place for your pots and pans to whip up delicious meals. You plan, prep your family's favorite dish, cook it to perfection -- and then you have to clean it all up.

But there are tradeoffs for kitchen beauty, and glass-top stoves are notorious for being frustrating to keep clean. An oil splatter from homemade french fries will turn into a black burn if not wiped up immediately. The tomato sauce that bubbled over from your famous baked ziti is sure to become an annoying stain the next morning.

So you have a few tough stains -- don't go back to cooking on metal coils just yet! Here are five tips on how to keep your glass-top stove from becoming a grungy, frustrating mess.